Henk Heithuis, second from the left, alleges he was castrated as a minor after complaining to Police about sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests. Picture: Courtesy of the Family Rogge / Omroep Brabant Source: Supplied

Mr Heithuis, told a Dutch journalist that after his abusers were convicted he was given back to the Catholic Church which punished him with castration. Picture: Courtesy of the Family Rogge / Omroep Brabant Source: Supplied

Historians say hundreds of boys received "treatment"

Man says he was castrated after reporting abuse by priests

Dutch Government announces investigation into claims

THE Dutch Government has announced it will investigate allegations the Roman Catholic Church castrated young men and boys as a "treatment" for homosexuality.

The allegations relate to hundreds of young boys in the care of the Church in the 1950s, UK newspaperThe Telegraph.

Dutch Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten said he would also investigate allegations of police and health authorities’ involvement in a cover up.

The investigation follows a report that men and boys under the age of 21 were castrated “to get rid of homosexuality" while under the care of the Church.

One of the boys, Henk Heithuis, alleges he was castrated as a minor after complaining to police about sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic priests.

Mr Heithuis and nine other victims were tracked down by a Dutch Journalist working for the NRC Handelsblad earlier this month. Dutch historians also suggested there were hundreds of similar cases of unreported abuse at the hands of the church.

The revelations are all the more shocking after an official investigation into Church abuse made no mention of the castration claims despite being alerted to them before it wrapped up late last year.

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